Telegraph keyboard transmitter



Aug. 19, 1952 w. J. ZENNER 2,607,848

TELEGRAPH KEYBOARD TRANSMITTER Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 33 INVENTOR WALTER J. ZENNER BY WATTORNEY Aug. 19,1952 w. J. ZENNER 2,607,848

TELEGRAPH KEYBOARD TRANSMITTER Filed May 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WALTER J. ZENNER BYZi FM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1952 Walter J. Znner, Des Plaines, Ill., 'assign'or to Teletype Corporatiom -Chicago, 111., a corporation-of Delaware Application May'28, 1949,'S'erial-No. 95,964

The present invention 'pertains to telegraph transmitters and more particularly to telegraph transmitters controllable from a manually operated keyboard.

"The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and efficient apparatus fortra nsmission of telegraph signals at very high speeds.

-Another-object of the invention is to provide in .atransmitter, a rocking contact arrangement for (generating accurate chatter-free signals.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide ialkeybo'ard operated device wherein the key action is smooth, uniform and light to the touch. Briefly, the transmitting portion or the arrangement according to the present invention,

embodies a cam drum having aseries of cam projections arranged helically to effect through a corresponding series of interponentspwhich are settable permutably by a novel keyboard structure, the operation of a transfer mechanism to vibrate a transmitting contact mechanism to distribute the signalimpulses over thesignal-line.

'The transmitting contact mechanism is of the type disclosed in copending application, .Serial "No. 70,730 'filed January is, 1949, by w. J. Zenner.

"The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more apparent in the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with .the accompanying drawings, inwh-ich: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmental [plan view showingessential elements of the keyboard transmitter according to the invention;

Fig.2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1; i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of 'Fig. 1;

lever arrangement;

Fig. -8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing an arrangement for preventing the simultaneous operation of two or moreke'ylevers; I v

Fig. '9 is a fragmental 'crossfsectional' view of l4 mounted on abracket l5.

5' Claims. (0]. 178-17) the keyboard showing an alternate form of key r;

'10 is a sectional view taken on line ill-I fl of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken .onl-ine H of Fig,-1, and

Fig. 1'2'is a fragmental view showing the alterna'te'position of the key lever locking bail.

The present apparatus embodies primarily a base I'll which is provided at its forward portion with a keyboard of the usual form, and which is adapted to house the key levers and the selector mechanisms operated thereby. Mounted on the base are the power drive means, signal generator and related parts which are selectively controlled by the aforementioned selector mechanism. A motor H for supplying the power for operating the keyboard transmitter of the present invention is appropriately mounted on the base :portion '10 in position to efiect' the rotation of a single operating shaft [2. All the parts are thus suitably supported inlsuch a manner as to form .a compact 'selfrc'o'ntained unit. I, i

' 'Havi'ng reference to Figs. 1 and 6, the base I0 is provided at its frontwith a keyboard comprising keylevers l2 operated by. keys [3. The keylevers or key members 12 are slidable verticallyand areg'uide'd at one end by a guide comb Each of the key vmembers 1-2 is 'pivotally articulated at I6 to an associated selector lever I! mounted pivotally .on a-common pivot shaft l8 suitably supported on brackets 19 (one at each end) fixed to the base portion l0. .Aspring 2| distended between a depending portion '22 of lever I! and the lower end of its associated key member I-2 tends normally to'bia'sfthe lever l! in a counterclockwise direction and simultaneously to maintain the key member I2 in its upward position. Each of the keymembers lzi's'provided with an upwardly directed'portion 23 to which'is fitted its individual key top or cap-l3. Key caps 13 areiprovided with individual flange portions 24, and are 'removably attached .to the portions 23 by means of chin strap? type "springs-25. v

The key members l2 and selectorlevers H are guided adjacent their points of mutilation T6 in slots in "a comb-tame suitably supported-in the mainframe 10.. Each of the key members [2" has pivotally articulated thereto [a depending wedge'shapedjmeiiiber 21 (Figsii and 8) adapted to cooperate with 'a series of balls' 28 in such a manner that upon the depression of a key" memoer-"l2 the was member 2-! associated therewith functions to shift'theballs '28 so as to prevent the depression of any of the other key members |2 until the previously depressed key member II! has been released. The displacement of the balls 28 is adjustd by means of an adjusting screw 29. The wedge members 21 and balls 28 are appropriately guided between a pair of guide bars 3| and 32. A space bar 33 is similarly supported on a pair of arms 34, one of which is associated with a selector lever H.

The leftwardly directed arms of the selector levers |1 (Fig. 6) cooperate with the coded bottom edges of a series of permutation members or code bars 35. As viewed in Fig. 2, the code bars 36 are adapted to be slidably mounted on cross members 36 and 31 supported on brackets 38 and 39 suitably attached to the base In. The code bars 35 are normally urged rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. 2) by springs 4| and 42 which are associated with alternate ones of the code bars 35, which in the embodiment described is due to lack of clearance between adjacent code bars to accommodate all the springs at the same end. Thus,

certain of the code bars 35 are provided with leftwardly directed extensions 43 to which one end of spring 4| is connected, the other end of the spring 4| being attached to a spring anchor rod 44 journaled in brackets 38. Alternate ones of said code bars 35 are provided with depending portions 45 to which one end of spring 42 is attached, the

"other end of spring 42 being anchored to a rod 46 journaled in brackets 39.

Each of the code bars 35 is provided with a shouldered portion 41 which cooperates with a bail member 48 mounted pivotally on pivot studs 49 and carried in a bracket 58 (Fig. 6). Fixed to bail 48 by means of screws 52 (Fig. 6) is a bracket 53, at the outer end of which is'pivotally carried, on pivot 54, a depending lever 55 which is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 56 connected to lever 55 and anchored to bracket 53. The lever '55 is adapted to thrust against a ball bearing member 51 carried on a pivot shaft 58. Lever 55 is also adapted to bear against an adjustable stop screw 59, due to the pull of spring 56. Thus, the springs 4| and 42 tend to urge the code bars 35 rightwardly (Fig. 2) tom turn tend. to urge the bail 48 to rotate counterclockwise, but this motion is resisted by the lever 55 bearing against the ball bearing 51.

The adjusting screw 59 is carried on the vertical arm of a lever 6| mounted pivotally on the shaft 58. The horizontal arm of lever 6| cooperates with a lever 62 pivoted at 63 (Fig. 6). Lever 62 is normally biased counterclockwise by a spring 64. At the extremity of its horizontal arm, lever 62 is provided with a shoulder 65 (Fig. 6)

which cooperates with a projection 66 of a plate 61 afiixed by screws 68 to a locking bail member 69. Bail 69 normally tends to rotate clockwise about a pair of pivot studs 1| (only one shown in Fig. l) by a spring 12 connected to an extension on plate 61 and anchored suitably to the frame I0.

Each selector lever I1 is provided adjacent its left end (Fig. 6) with a projection 13 which cooperates with the upper flange of the bail 69, so

that when a key member 2 is depressed, the associated selector member is rotated'clockwise to cause the projection 13 to strike the upper flange of bail 69 to cause the bail 69 to berotated counterclockwise. The extremity 14 ofselector lever I1 is conformed to provide a locking relationship with the shortened lower flange of the bail 69, whereby, upon actuation of one key member l2, the remaining key members are locked against operation, as indicatedin Fig. 12.. 7

Upon the actuation of a key member l2, the ball 69 will thus be rotated counterclockwise, and the projection 65 of plate 61 (Fig. 6) will be caused to ride ofi of the shoulder 6'5, thereby permitting the spring 64 to rotate the lever 62 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, lever 62, through its projection 15 (Fig. 6) will cause lever 6| to be'rotated clockwise (Fig. 2) to cause the screw 59 to push the lever 55 011 of the ball bearing 51. The ball bearing 51 is provided to facilitate a quick release with a minimum of friction. As the lever 55 is thus released against the action of spring 56, the ball 48 is free to be rotated counterclockwise by the springs 4| and 42 acting through the shoulders 41 on the code bars 35. The code bars 35 are thus freed to move rightwardly, unless their respective Wards or projections 16 are blocked by an operated selector lever l1.

Associated with the series of code bars 35 is a universal bar 11 (Fig. 11) which is also provided with a spring 4| (or 42), and with a shoulder 41, so that, as the bail 48 is released, the universal bar 11 will be moved rightwardly to permit a projection 18 on the upper edge thereof to cooperate with a clutch release lever 19. Having reference to Figs. 1 andl'l, the clutch release lever 19 is associated with a clutch, indicated generally as 88, of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 707,176, filed November .1, 1946, by A. N. Nilson et al., now U. S. Patent No. 2,568,249 of September 18, 1951. Clutch is of the single revolution type, and is normally locked against rotation by the release lever 19 which is normally biased clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 11) by a spring 8|. Fixed to shaft I2 (Fig. 1) is the driving portion of clutch 8|], the driven portion of which is associated with a cam sleeve 82. Therefore, when the universal bar 11 is actuated rightwardly in response to a key operation, its projection 18 will act through a laterally directed flange 83 of release lever 19 to actuate the clutch release lever 19 counterclockwise about its pivot 84 against the tension of spring 8| to remove the lateral portion 85 from the path of the clutch lever 86 (comparable to lever 21 in the copending application), thereby initiating rotation of the clutch 80, andh ence the cam sleeve 82. Incidentally, the clutch'release lever 19 is comparable to lever 52 in the copending application. However, in the present embodiment the lever 19 is mechanically controlled, while in said copending application the corresponding lever 52 is electromagnetically controlled.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is operably associated with sleeve 82 at its forward end, an eccentric drive mechanism for resetting the bail 48 and the code bars 35 (including the universal bar 11); Aflixed to the bail 48 is a bent plate 81 having a slot '88 engageable by an arm '89 integral with a plate 9| adjustably associated with anreccentric drive member 92 through arms 93 and 94 of said member 92. Adjustment between the members 9|] and 92 is effected by inserting a screw driverin the slots 99 or I08, 'depending upon which-direction adjustment is to be made, and by turningsaid screw driver to achieve ,the desired adjustment. Then the clamping screws 66 and 10 are tightened to cheat a rigid connection between the members 9| and 92; .Upon actuation of a key member 2 the bail 4 8 will be released, as previouslydescribed andwill rotate counterclockwise until the plate 81 bears against the shoulder 95 of arm 89. Then, .after. theclutch 88 and the sleeve 82 have been released for rotation, the eccentric 92 as.- sociated therewith will function to; move the trolling t e significant j'co'de signal,

aeoasle plate GI "leftw'ardly {as 'vi'ewedfin Fig; 2) to in "turn, "through plate "01, rotate the bail d clockwise-, thereby causing thelever '55, through spring -56-,-t'o rest ag'a-in uponthe bearing 51 and causing the lever to assume the position'in Fig-2, preparatory to response to a further actujatioh of a keymemb'er-I-Z.

In Fi'g. 3 is shown 7 restoring the previously actuated lever 82 to its lib-actuated position, indicated in Fig. 6.- it will be recalled that upon actuation of a key m'em'ber I2, the selector lever --I'I "associated therewith functioned torota'te thebail 69 counterclockwise, causing the projection '60 thereof to ride off of the shoulder 0'5 and-permitting the: lever 52 to respond to the pull 0f its spring 84. llhe proje'ctio'n -GIi'th'ereaiter r'ests against the edge 95 'ofleve r 62, following the removalof finger ipressure from the operated key member 1 2. A bell crank lever 86 (Fig. 3) is mounted on a pivot 91 carried in the bracket '50. and is provided with a horizontal "arm 98 adapted to cooperate with the lever 02. Pivotally"carrie'd'atthe extremity of the depending arm of bell crank lever siii's a latch member 99. has a vertical projection IOI which'cooper-ates .with a stop pin I02 fixed to the bracket 50. The bellcrank lever 96 and latch .09 normally assume the dottedline position shown in Fig. 3 under thepull of spring I03, wherein-the latchmemher-99 is unlatched from the extension I04 of bail ,48, and the projectionIDI is abutting the stop I02.

Now, when a key member I2 is actuated, the ball 48 will be released, as previously described, and Will be actuated counterclockwise (under the influence of code bar springs II and 4-2), whereu-ponextension I04 will engage the latch 99. Then, when the bail 48 is actuated or returned in a clockwisedirecticn by the arm d1 of the qeccentricplate SI, the bell cranklever 56 will be rotatedclockwise (by the latch 99) to-c-ause the '88 toreturn the lever 62 to the position shown in Fig. 6. In thus returning lever 62,

the projection will be ireed from the surface ieve'r "951:0 "the dotted position shown inFig. 3.

'In'th'e'present embodiment of the invention,

ls'i'x' o'fthe code bars are employed'for making permutation code selections according to the well known Baudot code. If desired, a '5 unit or 'other code may be employed. In the embodiment shown, eight of the code bars 35 are aljlotte'dfto the transmission or a si'X- u'nit code,

'icomprising' a bar 35-'-I "for controlling the start "signal; six bar's 3 5"2 to 3 5-'I inclusive, for con- 4 y pulses, and a bar 35' 8;for controlling the stop igner- A's viewed in 'Figfaeachpf the barste-are provided with projections or wards TB depending "from'th eir loweredge "to cooperate with the selector levers 'I'I. Upon'the operation of a key member I 2 inresponseto which 'the'baildt is released for counterclockwise m-ovementf as previouslydescribed, thecode bars 35f d to move rightwardly'dueto the action air-springs the reset mechanism i-or The bell crank lever 9 6 also Therefore, when the plate "61 and bail M and'4 2. *However the selector 'lever'I-T a'ssociated'with the operated key member -I2-' will have been presented into the path -oi the -wards 1 5 so that thosebars 35 having wardsa'djacent the operated selected "IBVBTI? will be prevented from moving rightwardly, and those bars "-35 having no wards 16 adjacent the operated'seleetor lever I I will be permitted to move rightwardly. For each selector lever H, the arrangement of wards I6 is different, so that diiierent -ba r'"-' I=6 are permitted to move rightwardly for each key operated selector lever I].

Each of the code bars 35 is also provided on its upper edge with a shoulder I06 which cooperates with the lower arm of a lever I01. Levers I01 are mounted pivotally on a suitably supported pivot rod I08, and are normally biased counterclockwise by individual springs I09. Levers =I 0I are normally heldin their clockwise position against the action of spring I09 (asshown in Fig. 2) by the shoulders I06 of code bars 35-, and when the code barsare-permitted to move'rightwardly the associated levers I0! are permitted to rotate counterclockwise a predetermined amount under the action of their individual springs I09. Levers I0! are guided' by the upper and lower notched flanges of the comb member III.

Pivotally articulated to the upper arm-0 f each of the levers I07, and also guided in the -u pper flange of the comb member-I I I, is air-interponent member IIO. Each lever I01 and itsas's'oci-ated interponent III! are maintainedin cooperative relationship by an individual spring II'3, which also normally biases the associated interponent H0 in a clockwise direction. Each interponent H0 is provided with'a cam follower portion I-I' l adapted to cooperate with an individual cam M5. Each interponent I I0 is also provided with a pair of marking and spacing abutments I I6 and II], respectively, adapted to cooperate under predetermined conditions with depending flanges 'or abutment-s H8 and H9, respectively, of a'rocker member I2I, mounted pivotally on a pivot shaft The. cam projections on the cams II'5' (eight in thepresent embodiment) are arranged helically, in well known mannerfso that upon 'rotation of said earns, the interponents -I I0 will'be oscillated sequentially. Thus, if a code bar 35 has not been permitted to move rightwardly (because its ward 16 has been blocked by an operated selector lever I'I) its associatedinterponent IIO will remain in the position shown in Fig.2, Withthe abutment I I6 in register with the flange I88 of the rocker member I2I. Then, when-the cam I I5 is rotated, the interponent 'I I0-asso'ciated therewith, will, in predetermined timed relation with the speed of transmissiombe actuated counterclockwise so that the abutment II-IS thereon will strike or abut the flange 8- (if therocker member I-2I was in its counterclockwise "position) to rotate the rocker member I2I clockwise. On the other hand, if a code bar 35 has beenpe'rmitted to move rightwardly, its associated interponent1l I0 will be actuated toward the left'to bring the abutment I H in register with the flange I'I9 of ;the rocker member I2I. Thereforaiwhen the cam I I5 is rotated, the interponent H 0 associated therewith will be actuated counterclockwise, as before, but now the abutment II"I.wi'l1 abut the flange I I9 to rotate the rocker I'2l counterclockwise. 1 Associated with the series of eight cams I I5,

'isa em I 23 which cooperates with the extremity of arm I24 of a locking bail member I25 mounted on a pivot I26. Bail I25 is provided with a blade I21 which cooperates with the pointed upper extremities I28 of levers I01. The rightward and leftward reciprocating movements of the interponents H is controlled by a limiting stop bar I29, suitably slotted togovern the relative movement between abutments H6 and H1, and the flanges H8 and H9, respectively. Normal counterclockwise bias is imparted to bail I25 by a spring I3I.

Integral with the rocker member I2I (in the present embodiment) is a lever arm H2 for actuating the contact mechanism indicated generally by the number I32. This contact mechanism I32 is of the type disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 70,730 filed January 13, 1949, by W. J. Zenner, and comprises in the embodiment disclosed herein, a lever arm I33 having a forked extremity I34 adapted to cooperate with a pin I35 carried by the arm H2 of the rocker member I2I. In this manner, the arm H2 is pivotally articulated to the arm I33 of the contact mechanism I32. Arm I33 is pivotally mounted on a pivot I36 carried in a bracket I31 secured by screws I38 to a pedestal I 39 supported on-the base I0. Cooperating in an overcentering manner with a pair of oppositely disposed substantially V-shaped notches I4I on the arm I33 adjacent to the pivot I36 are a corresponding pair of lever arms, I42 and I43 pivotally articulated to associated hinge plates I44 and I45, respectively, secured by screws I46 to the pedestal I39. Carried on lever arm I42 is a contact element I41 which cooperates with a contact element I48'fixed to the bracket I31. Similarly, mounted on the lever arm I43 is a contact I49 which cooperates with a contact element II fixed to the bracket I31.

In the embodiment of the invention herein described, the contacts I49I5I function as marking contacts, and the contacts I41I48 function as. spacing contacts. Thus, positive or marking battery is applied to contact I5I, and the terminal I52 is connected to the signal line. Having reference to Fig. 1, the code bar 35I, which controls the start signal, is invariably actuated rightwardly upon each key operation, due to the absence of wards 16, to close contacts .I41-I48.

However, since the contacts I41I48 are neutral,

which controls the stop signal is invariably prevented from moving rightwardly due to the presence of wards 16 in each key position; that is, associated with each selector lever I1.

Disposed on arm II 2 opposite to pin I35 is a pin I53 cooperable with a limiting stop member I54 to control the rocking motion of member I2I (Fig. 5). Having reference to Fig. 4 thereis provided on the rocker I2I, a member I55 having a depending extremity I56. An overcentering member I51 is provided at one end with a tongue I58 adapted to fit loosely in a suitable aperture in the depending extremity I56 by 1 means of which the member I51 is pivotally articulated to the member I55. 'The member I51is also provided at its other end with a tongue (not shown) which fits loosely in a suitable aperture in a detent lever I59 mounted pivotally on a pivot IBI. Lever I59 is normally biased counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 4) by a spring I62. MemberI51 8 is thus also pivotally articulated to the detent lever I59. With this over-centering arrangement, the rocker member I2I is urged quickly to its clockwise or counterclockwise position and held thereat due to the extension and retraction of spring I62.

A brief description of operation is as follows: Upon the depression of a key member I2, the selector lever I1 willbe presented in the path of wards 16 of code bars 35, and at the same time the projection 13 will rotate ball 69 to release lever 62, which, through-bell crank 6|, will release the bail 48 to permit the springs M and 42 to tend to bias code bars rightwardly. At the same time release bar 11 will release clutch for a single revolution. Levers I01 will be unlocked by bail I25 and levers I01 will thereupon assume a T clockwise or counterclockwise position in accordance with the setting of the code bars 35. As previously mentioned the start bar 35I and stop bar 35--8 will invariably be set to control the start and stop signal impulses, respectively. Interponents H0 will also assume a right or left position according to setting of levers I01 to brin abutments H6 or H1 into alignment with their respective flanges H8 and H9. Then upon continuation of rotation of cam sleeve 82, the cams II5 will oscillate the interponents H0 to, in turn, rock the member I2I to operate the contact mechanism I32 accordingly. At the close of the cycle of rotation of cam sleeve 82 the eccentric drive 9I92 will impart clockwise movement to the bail 48 to thereby restore the code bars 35 to their leftward position, and to restore levers 55 and 62 to their normal rest positions.

There is shown in Fig. 5-A an alternate form of contact arrangement differing somewhat from the contact mechanism I32 (Fig. 2) in principle of operation. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the contact levers I42 and I43 cooperate in an overcentering manner with a pair of oppositely disposed V-shaped notches MI in the lever arm I33. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5-A there is provided a contact assembly for closing one or the other of two contact pairs wherein the movable contact pair carrier will, upon movement, be fulcrumed about the stationary contact point of the pair to be closed, rather than about an external pivot point, to prevent vibration and chattering.

Having reference to Fig. 5-A, the arm or extension H2 of the rocker member I2I is pivotally connected, through the pin I35, to an operating lever I85 which is connected pivotally to the stem of a T-shaped lever I86. Each of the arms of the T-lever I06 is provided on its underside with a contact point I81 which cooperate respectively with fixed contact points I88 carried on brackets I89. At a point centrally located between the contacts I81, the swingable lever I86 is provided with a V-shaped notch I9I which cooperates with an arm of substantially U shaped member I92, the other arm of which cooperates with a V-shaped notch I93 in a bracket I94 mounted on the pedestal I39.' A spring'I95 having one end attached to the member I92 has the other end attached to a spring post I96.

The spring I95 is, thus,s'o connected that the member I92 will be urged normally in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5-A), urging the contact points I81 toward their associated contact points I88 formed by the upper surface of pins I91. With the notch I9I centrally located, a balanced pressure is exerted with respect to both of the contact points I 81. In actual practice the operating lever I85 will normally be held in such a position that only one contact pair I81--I88 will be'closed-at a time. Thus,the operating lever I85 willbe' in one of its two positions, or moving from onetothe other, which causes the -T -lever I86 to be positioned in such amanneras to cause one of the contact points I81 to fulcrum about its associated contact point I88 formed by'the upper surface of the pin I91. As a change of selection is made in the operating lever- I85, the T-lever I86 will be moved from one position to the other, and as the lever I86 is not pivoted about'an external point, it will fulcrum about the contact pair which is desired to be closed. In this-manner bounce and vibrationwill be again eliminated. V 1 I "An alternate form of key arrangement is shown in Figs. 7,9 and 10, and comprises a 'plate I63 having integral tab-like portio ns I6 I formed therein, said'portions'being' slottedt'o form'gjufide means for associated key members; I65; i'yh'ich are suitably cappedby key tops I68. Key'member I65 are suitably formed, depending on the positions of their respective key' tops I66 in the key bank, to terminate in an alignment to engage the respective lateral portions I61 of select'or' levers I68 mounted pivotally on common pivot' shaft I69 (analogous to'shaft-I i Fig.6)i A'spa'ce bar IN is mounted on a pairof vertical bars I12 pivoted to'bell cranks I13 which are in turn pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft I14. The v'erti cal arm of bell crank I 13 is pivoted to one end of a' link I15, the other end of which is connected pivotally to an arm I16 integral to its particular selector lever I68. Each of the selector levers I68 are provided with an arm I11terminating in a forked end on which is suspended a wedge member I18 (analogous to wedge member 21, Fig. 8),

which is adapted to cooperatewith a series of balls I19, which function to prevent the depres sion of more than one'key member at a time (as described hereinbeforev in connection with Fig. 8).

Similar to selector levers I1, the selector levers 1. In a telegraph transmitter, transmitting contacts, contact actuating mechanism therefor comprising a rockable member having a pair of abutments, a signal distributor cam assembly disposed subjacently to said member, a plurality of interponents disposed between said cam assembly and said rockable member, each of said interponents provided with a pair of spaced abutments, respective ones of said abutments on said interponents adapted to coact selectively with its associated abutment on said rocker member, a set of permutation members, instrumentalities associated with said permutation members for con.- trolling the selective positions of said interponents, a bail means for normally restraining selective movement of said permutation members, a series of depressible keys, a corresponding series of selector bars actuated by said keys, said permutation members having coded elements cooperable with said selector bars, means universally controlled by said selector bars, initiating means operably associated with said universally controlled means, said initiating means comprising a first release means operated under the con- 1o trol of said universally controlled means, and a second-release means operated under the control of said first release means, whereby said bail 'means is released to effectuate the selective movement of said permutation members under the control of said selector bars to impart through said instrumentalities a corresponding setting to said interponents to enable said camassembly to 0perate said rockable member to activate said transmitting contacts according to the settling of'said interponents, and cam means for subsequently restoring said bail means to normal osition. t

2. In a telegraph transmitter, transmitting contacts, contact actua'tingmechanism thereiqr comprising, a rockable member havingfa pair of abutments, a signal distributor cam. assembly disposed subjacently to said member, a plurality of interponents disposed between said cam assembly and said rockable member, each of said interpo-. nents provided with a pair of spaced abutments,

respective ones of said abutments on said interponents adapted to coact selectively with its associated abutment on said rocker member, a set of permutation members, instrumentalities. associated with said permutation members for controlling the selective positions of said interponents, a first bail for normally restraining selective movement of said permutation members, a series ofdepressible keys, a corresponding series of selector bars actuated by said keys, said permutation members having coded elements coopera-ble with said selector bars, a locking bail for said selector bars, trigger means operably as- "sociated with'said locking bail, said triggermeans comprising a first trip-off means operated under the control of said locking bail and a second trip"- ofi mean operated under the control of said first able said cam assembly to operate said rockable member to activate said transmitting contacts according to the setting of said interponents, and cam means for subsequently restoring said, first bail to normal position.

3. In a telegraph transmitter, transmitting contacts, contact actuating mechanism therefor comprising a rockable member having a pair of abutments, a signal distributor cam assembly disposed subjacently to said member, a plurality of interponents disposed between said cam assembly and said rockable member, each of said interponents provided with a pair of spaced abutments, respective ones of said abutments on said interponents adapted to coact selectively with its associated abutment on said rocker member, a set of permutation members, instrumentalities associated with said permutation members for controlling the selective positions of said interponents, a bail means for normally restraining selective movement of said permutation members, a series of clepressible keys,-a'corresponding series of selector bars actuated by said keys, said permutation members having coded elements co: operable with said selector bars, means universally controlled by said selector bars, means on said universally controlled means effective on conformed extremities of said selector barsfor fixating said selector bars during each cyclic operation according to the operation thereof, initiating means operabl associatedwithsaid'universally controlled means, said initiating means comprising a first release means operated under the control of said universally controlled means and a second release means operated under the control of said first release means, whereby said bail means is released ltcjeifectuate the selective movement of said permutation members under the control of said selector bars to impart through said instrumentalities a corresponding setting to said interponents to enable said cam assembly to operate said rockable member to activate said transmitting contacts according to the setting of said interponents, and cam means for subsequently restoring said bail means to normal position.

I l 4. In a telegraph transmitter, transmitting contacts, contact actuating mechanism therefor comprisin'ga rockable member having a pair fofabutmerits, a, signal distributor cam assemblydisposed subjacently to' said member, a plurality of interponents disposed between said cam assemmy and said rockable member, eachof said interponents providedwith a pair of spaced abutments, respective ones of said abutments on said interponents, adapted to coact selectively with its associated abutment on said rocker member, a set of permutation members, instrumentalities associated with said permutation members for controlling theyselectivet positions of said interponents, a first means for normally restraining selective movement of said permutation members, a series of depressiblekeys, a corresponding series of selector bars actuated by said keys, said permutation members having coded elements operable With said selector bars, means universally controlled by said selector bars, initiating means operably associated with said universally controlled means, said initiating means comprising a trip-off means operated under the control of said universally controlled means and antifriction release means operated under the control of said trip-off means, whereby said first means is released to effectuate the selective movement of said permutation members under the control 5. In a telegraph transmitter, transmitting contacts, contact actuating mechanism comprising a rockable member having a pair of abutments, a signal distributor cam assembly disposed subjacently to said member, ,a plurality of 'interponents disposed between said cam assembly and said rockable'member, each of said interponents provided with a pair of spaced abutments, respective ones of said abutments on said interponents adapted to coact selectively with its associated abutment on said rocker member, a set of permutation members, instrumentalities associated with said permutation members for controlling the selective positions of said interponents, a bail means for normally restraining selective movement of said permutation mem-. bers, a series of depressible keys, a corresponding series of selector bars actuated by said keys, said permutation members having coded elements 00- operable with said selector bars, means universally controlled by said selector bars, starting means adapted to initiate operationof the transmitter under control of said universally controlled means, said starting means comprising a first release means operated under the control of said universally controlled means and a second release means operated under the control of said first release means, whereby said bail means is released to efiectuate the selective movement of said permutation members under the control of said selector bars to impart through said instrumentalities a corresponding setting to said interponents to enable said cam assembly to operate said rockable member to activate said transmitting contacts according to the setting of said interponents, cam means for subsequently restoring said bail means to normal position, and means controlled by said bail means effective during said operation of restoration to condition said starting means for reoperation.

WALTER J. ZENNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Spencer Mar. 3, 1942 

